System for securing concrete form panels

ABSTRACT

An improved concrete form ( 20 ) is provided having spaced apart, opposed, multi-panel wall sections ( 22, 28 ) interconnected by connection assemblies ( 68 ). Each wall section ( 22, 28 ) is made up of at least two form panels ( 24, 26, 30, 32 ) which are placed in side-by-side, abutting relationship. Each form panel ( 24, 26, 30, 32 ) has a planar panel segment ( 34 ) with a pair of projecting, apertured sidewalls ( 42 ) secured to the outer surfaces ( 38 ) thereof. Each segment ( 34 ) has a series of recesses ( 62 ) formed in the butt edges ( 60 ) thereof outboard of the proximal sidewalls ( 42 ), so that when the form panels ( 24, 26  or  30, 32 ) are adjacent each other, a series of through-openings ( 64 ) are cooperatively defined by the recesses ( 62 ). The connection assemblies ( 68 ) include an elongated, threaded connector ( 70 ) of length to bridge the wall sections ( 22, 28 ) and to present threaded end segments ( 78, 80 ) extending beyond the wall sections ( 22, 28 ). Connection clip assemblies ( 74, 76 ) are threaded onto the ends ( 78, 80 ) of the connectors ( 70 ) to interconnect the panels ( 24, 26  and  30, 32 ) as well as the wall sections ( 22, 28 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is broadly concerned with improved concrete forms and components thereof which permit the forms to be easily assembled, used and disassembled in the field without the need for special tools or time-consuming assembly/disassembly operations. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such concrete forms, the individual form panels making up the complete forms, and the connection hardware used to interconnect the form panels.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many present day poured concrete structures are constructed using prefabricated, reusable, interlocking form sections or panels. These panels are necessarily of relatively high strength, yet preferably are compact and lightweight. Thus, concrete form panels are advantageously constructed from aluminum, and are designed to be interconnected end-to-end as well as in opposed relationship, to present a wall form for example. For purposes of end-to-end interconnection, the panels generally include vertically extending end walls having a series of spaced openings therethrough. When placed in juxtaposition with the end wall apertures in alignment, the individual panels are typically interconnected by means of slotted pin and wedge assemblies. Thus, slotted pins are driven through aligned end wall apertures, and a wedge is then placed within the pin slot in order to lock the individual panels together. When the form is disassembled, the wedges are loosened and removed, and the pins extracted from the form panel apertures. Other types of form panel connection apparatus have been proposed, wherein the connectors are wholly or largely permanently affixed to the panels. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,251,861 and 7,182,308.

Cross-connection of concrete form panels is often accomplished using what is referred to as “taper-tie” connectors. In such situations, a series of elongated connecting rods extend between opposed form panels and are secured at their outer ends by means of threaded fasteners. The inner portion of the connecting rods between the opposed form panels is covered with a tubular conical sleeve to permit extraction of the connection rods after a concrete wall is formed. These connecting rods are typically located at the central region of the form panels, rather than at the side margins thereof. This is because it is difficult to attach the connecting rod fasteners at the side margins, where the later form connection hardware is located. However, such central taper-tie assemblies can be difficult to install, and do not give maximum support at the critical joints between the form panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides an improved concrete form assembly broadly including first and second, multiple-panel wall sections of special design, together with a connection assemblies serving to rigidly interconnect the multiple panels of each wall section, and also to cross-connect the wall sections. Broadly speaking, a concrete form assembly in accordance with the invention comprises a first wall section including a pair of juxtaposed first form panels each having an inner surface and an outer surface and side marginal structure, wherein the first panel marginal structures are adjacent each other and cooperatively define a joint between the first form panels, and a first through bore. The form also has a second wall section including a pair of juxtaposed second form panels each having an inner surface and an outer surface and side marginal structure, the second panel marginal structures being adjacent each other and cooperatively defining a joint between the second form panels, and a second through bore. The first and second wall section are positioned in spaced, opposed relationship with the inner surfaces of the panels thereof in adjacency and with the first and second bores in general alignment.

The connection assemblies each include an elongated connector bridging the first and second wall sections and extending through the first and second bores, the connector presenting opposed, threaded ends respectively extending outwardly beyond the outer faces of the proximal panels. A first connector clip assembly is threadably coupled with the threaded end of the connector extending beyond the outer faces of the first panels, and a second connector clip assembly is likewise threadably coupled with the threaded end of the connector extending beyond the outer faces of the second panels.

In preferred forms, the side marginal structures of the first and second form panels each have outermost marginal recesses, the recesses of the first form panels being in alignment and cooperatively defining first bores at the joint between the first form panels. Likewise, the recesses of the second form panels are in alignment and cooperatively define second bores at the joint between the second form panels. In this fashion, the connectors extend through aligned openings along the joints between the form panels making up the first and second wall sections, to provide maximum structural rigidity to the overall form.

Each of the first and second connector clip assemblies are preferably in the form of a U-shaped bracket having an elongated connection pin. During installation, the pin is inserted across aligned openings provided in adjacent panel sidewalls, and the bracket is rotated toward the panels to bridge the adjacent panel sidewalls and to pull the panels together. Threaded couplers are provided as a part of the clip assemblies in order to secure the latter to the threaded end of the connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first concrete form wall section comprising a pair of juxtaposed form panels, illustrating the outside surface of the wall section with connector clip assemblies in accordance with the invention located along the juncture between the panels;

FIG. 2 is a is a perspective view depicting the inside surface of the wall section illustrated in FIG. 1, and further depicting the insertion of threaded connectors through marginal bores at the juncture between the form panels, and installation of tubular, conical sleeves over the connectors;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the positioning of a pair of form panels during installation of a second concrete form wall section in spaced, opposed relationship to the first wall section;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing the positioning of the form panels making up the second wall section;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first and second wall sections oriented to form a part of a concrete form, and further showing the installation of connector clip assemblies over the ends of the threaded connectors adjacent the outside surface of the second wall section;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary perspective view illustrating the first step in the installation of one of the connector clip assemblies to the outside surface of the second wall section;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary perspective view illustrating the second step in the installation of one of the connector clip assemblies to the outside surface of the second wall section;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary perspective view illustrating the final placement of one of the connector clip assemblies to the outside surface of the second wall section, and installation of associated locking nuts onto the threaded connector.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view illustrating the final construction of one of the connector clip assemblies including the associated locking nut to the outside surface of the second wall section;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 and illustrating one of the complete connector assemblies serving to interconnect the first and second wall sections;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9 and illustrating the construction of one of the connector clip assemblies secured to the outer surface of the second wall section;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the connector clip applied to the outer surface of the second wall section, viewing the outboard surface of the clip;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the clip illustrated in FIG. 12, but viewing the inboard surface thereof;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one of the connector clips applied to the outer surface of the first wall section, viewing the outboard surface of the clip; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the clip illustrated in FIG. 14, but viewing the inboard surface thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is directed to concrete forms assemblies typically formed of a series of adjacent and opposed, interconnected metallic (e.g., aluminum) form panels, as well as the form panels themselves and the connection hardware employed in erecting such forms. Generally speaking, the concrete forms of the invention include opposed walls defining therebetween a concrete-receiving space. When erected, concrete is poured into the spaces between the form walls and allowed to set, whereupon the panels, and certain of the connection hardware components, are removed from the resulting concrete wall structure for reuse.

In greater detail, a complete concrete form 20 (FIG. 10) in accordance with the invention includes a first wall section 22 made up of at least two juxtaposed first form panels 24 and 26 situated in side-by-side relationship as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a second wall section 28 likewise made up of two juxtaposed second form panels 30 and 32. The form panels 24, 26 and 30, 32 are identical, and broadly include (see FIGS. 2 and 3) a primary, essentially planar panel segment 34 presenting a substantially flat inner form surface 36 and an opposed, outer connection surface 38.

The outer connection surface of each panel includes a pair of identical, outwardly extending lateral sidewalls 42 as well as interconnected upper and lower walls 44, 46. The walls 42-46 are welded or otherwise affixed to the surface 38 and define a circumscribing, rearwardly extending wall frame located slightly inboard of the outer edges of the panel segment 34. The sidewalls 42 include four mated pairs of openings 48 and 50 alone the length thereof. As best seen in FIG. 4, apertured wear plates 52 are affixed to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 42, at the regions of the openings 48, 50, and have openings 54 therein in registry with the associated openings 48, 50. Further, the outer surfaces 38 of the sidewalls 42 have pairs of tubular abutments 56 and 58, again positioned in registry with the openings 48 and 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the lateral butt edges 60 of the panel segments 34 outboard of the sidewalls 42 have a series of essentially semi-circular recesses 62 located between each pair of openings 48, 50 and corresponding abutments 56, 58. These recesses are located in lateral alignment, such that, when a pair of form panels are placed in juxtaposition with the butt edges 60 thereof in engagement, the recesses 62 cooperatively define a series of circular openings 64 along the length of the panels (see FIG. 2) at the juncture or joint between the panels. Each outer panel surface 38 is also equipped with a series of laterally extending, vertically spaced apart reinforcement beams 66 which are welded to outer panel surface 38 and to the inboard faces of the sidewalls 42.

The panels 24, 26 and 30, 32 are interconnected to present a concrete form 20 through use of a series of identical connection assemblies 68. Each such assembly 68 includes an elongated, threaded connector 70, a conically-shaped tubular spacer 72, a first wall connection clip assembly 74 and a second wall connection clip assembly 76.

The connector 70 is externally threaded throughout and is of a length to bridge the wall sections 22 and 28 and to present threaded end sections 78 and 80 which extend outwardly beyond the first and second walls 22, 28, respectively (see FIG. 10). The end 80 has an outermost square wrench segment 82. The spacer 72 presents a tapered, conical outer surface 84 as well as a central, axial, internal bore 86 sized to telescope over connector 70.

The first wall connection clip assembly 74 (see FIGS. 14 and 15) includes a generally U-shaped bracket 88 having an outer wall 90 presenting a slot 92, a first sidewall 94, and an opposed, spaced apart second sidewall 96. The first sidewall 94 is equipped with a laterally projecting pin 98 extending toward second sidewall 96, as well as an obliquely oriented, exteriorily mounted operating handle 100. The second sidewall 96 has an oblique, out-turned terminal end 102 which facilitates installation of the bracket 88 as will be explained. The complete first connection clip assembly 74 includes an apertured reinforcement block 104 secured to the outer face of bracket wall 90. The block 104 has an elongated, projecting, tubular, internally threaded ferrule 106 in registry with the block opening and slot 92 (FIG. 15). The internal threading provided in ferrule 106 mates with the external threading on connector end 80 as will be explained.

The second wall connection clip assembly 76 (see FIGS. 12-13) includes a bracket 88 identical with that previously described, but does not have the block 104 or ferrule 106. However, the clip assembly 76 has a locking nut assembly 108 (FIG. 11) in the form of a wing nut 110 threadable onto connector end 80.

The steps involved in the construction of a concrete form 20 will next be explained. In this discussion, first and second wall sections 22, 28 will be assumed to have only two form panels per wall section; it will of course be appreciated that in normal practice a large number of individual form panels are interconnected in the manner to be described, in order to produce a form of appropriate length. However, the addition of further panels proceeds in exactly the same manner as described below.

In the first step (FIGS. 1-2), the first wall section 22 is erected by placing a pair of first form panels 24,26 in side-by-side, abutting relationship, so that the butt edges 60 thereof are in engagement to cooperatively define a first joint 114, and the with the openings 64 defined by the individual aligned recesses 62. In this orientation, the tubular abutments 56 are in face-to-face contact, and the sidewalls 42 of the two form panels are in close adjacency. Next, the first wall clip assemblies 74 are installed in bridging relationship relative to the proximal sidewalls 42, using the aligned openings 50 provided in the sidewalls 42. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, each clip assembly 74 is installed by first inserting pin 98 into and through a pair of aligned openings 50, followed by grasping handle 100 and pivoting the clip assembly 74 inwardly about a generally horizontal axis toward the panel segments 34 until the bracket sidewalls 94, 96 come into frictional, compressive locking engagement with the wearplates 52 attached to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 42 (see FIG. 10). Any temporary misalignment of the form panels 24, 26 is accommodated by the out-turned terminal end 102 of clip sidewall 96 during installation of the clip assembly 74. At this point, it will be seen that the threaded ferrules 106 of the clip assemblies 74 are in alignment with the individual openings 64 along the length joint 114.

In the next step (FIG. 2), the ends 78 of the connectors 70 are inserted through the openings 64 in first wall section 22 and are threaded into the ferrules 106. If needed, a wrench is applied to outer segments 82 of the connectors to assist in installation thereof. Thereupon, the tubular spacers 72 are telescoped onto the individual connectors 70, and slid into contact with the inner faces of the form panels 24, 26 making up the first wall section 22.

The second wall section 28 is erected by placement of second form panels 30 and 32 in side-by-side relationship (FIG. 3). During such placement, the panels 30, 32 are oriented in alignment with the projecting connectors 70, i.e., the aligned recesses 62 provided in the butt edges 60 of the panels 30, 32 are located around each connector 70, with the inner surfaces 36 of the planar segments 34 in abutting relationship with the ends of the spacers 72. In this configuration, the outwardly extending ends 80 of the connectors 70 extend outwardly beyond the second wall section 28.

In the next step, the second wall connection clip assemblies 76 are applied to the adjacent sidewalls 42 of the second form panels 30, 32. This involves insertion of the pins 98 of brackets 88 into aligned openings 50, followed by grasping the handles 100 and pivoting the brackets about generally axes inwardly toward the panel segments 34 until the brackets assume a bridging position with respect to the adjacent sidewalls 42 (see FIG. 11). As illustrated in FIG. 7, the slots 92 provided in the outer walls 90 of the brackets 88 permit such pivoting movement without interference from the projecting ends 80 of the connectors 70. In this orientation the bracket sidewalls 94 and 96 come into compressive engagement with the wear plates 52 affixed to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 42, in order to bring together the form pane. The final step involves threading the wing nuts 110 onto the ends 80 of connectors 70 until the nuts tightly engage the outer walls 90 of brackets 88, thereby forming the complete connection clip assemblies.

In its final constructed condition, the concrete form 20 presents a rugged, structurally sound form which can be filled with concrete in the usual fashion. Once the concrete has set to form a concrete wall (not shown) between the form wall sections 22 and 28, the form 20 can be easily disassembled for reuse. This involves loosening of the locking nut assemblies 108 by unthreading the nuts 110 from the ends 80 of the connecting connectors 70. Next, each bracket 88 is removed by pulling outwardly on the handle 100 until the bracket 88 clears the connector 70, followed by laterally pulling the bracket 88 to disengage pin 98 from the sidewall openings 50. This permits complete removal of the form panels 30, 32 from the concrete wall. At this point, each connector 70 is removed by counterclockwise rotation thereof, using wrench segment 82 if necessary. This serves to withdraw the connector 70 from threaded ferrule 106, permitting the connector to be pulled completely out of the formed wall. If desired, a conventional extraction tool may be used to remove the remaining conical spacers 72 from the wall; alternately, the spacers may be left in place. It is then only necessary to detach the connection clip assemblies 74 affixed to the form panels 24, 26 of first wall section 22. This is accomplished in the same manner as detachment of the clip assemblies 76, i.e., each handle 100 is grasped and the bracket 88 is pivoted outwardly, whereupon the bracket 88 is shifted laterally to remove the pin 98 form the sidewall openings 50. At this point, the first wall section form panels 24 and 26 can be detached from the formed concrete wall.

A principal advantage of the concrete form assemblies of the invention is that the connectors are positioned at points closely adjacent (and preferably along) the juncture between individual form panels making up the form wall sections. In this manner, a secure connection is provided at these joints, rather than at central locations midway between the outer sidewalls of the panels. Furthermore, form construction is facilitated because the user does not have to simultaneously insert threaded connectors between opposed wall sections while threading the connector into both of the wall sections.

While the invention has been described with reference to a presently preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the invention is not so limited. For example, conventional taper-tie couplers can be used in lieu of the preferred connectors 70, and other changes in the hardware and configuration of the form components can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A concrete form assembly comprising: a first wall section including a pair of juxtaposed first form panels each having an inner surface and an outer surface and side marginal structure, said first panel marginal structures being adjacent each other and cooperatively defining a joint between the first form panels, and a first through bore; a second wall section including a pair of juxtaposed second form panels each having an inner surface and an outer surface and side marginal structure, said second panel marginal structures being adjacent each other and cooperatively defining a joint between the second form panels, and a second through bore, said first and second wall sections being in spaced, opposed relationship with the inner surfaces of the panels thereof in adjacency and with said first and second bores in general alignment; an elongated connector bridging said first and second wall sections and extending through first and second bores, said connector presenting opposed, threaded ends respectively extending outwardly beyond the outer faces of the proximal panels; a first connector clip assembly threadably coupled with the threaded end of said connector extending beyond the outer faces of said first panels; and a second connector clip assembly threadably coupled with the threaded end of said connector extending beyond the outer faces of said second panels.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, said side marginal structures of said first form panels, and said side marginal structures of said second form panels, each having an outermost marginal recess, the recesses of said first form panels being in alignment and cooperatively defining said first bore at said joint between the first form panels, the recesses of said second form panels being in alignment and cooperatively defining said second bore at said joint between the second form panels.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, said side marginal structures of said first form panels, and said side marginal structures of said second form panels, each having an elongated, sidewall extending outwardly from the outer surfaces of the first and second form panels, said connector extending between the adjacent sidewalls presented by said first and second form panels, said first clip bridging the sidewalls presented by said first form panels, said second clip bridging the sidewalls presented by the second form panels.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, said second clip assembly including a locking nut threaded onto the adjacent end of said connector.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, said first clip assembly including a tubular, internally threaded ferrule, the end of said connector extending beyond the outer surfaces of the second panels being threaded into said ferrule.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, said side marginal structure of said first and second form panels including outwardly projecting sidewalls secured to the outer surfaces thereof there being aligned apertures formed in said sidewalls, said first and second connector clip assemblies each having an elongated pin configured to be inserted through a pair of said aligned apertures and spanning said sidewalls.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, each of said first and second connector clip assemblies having a generally U-shaped bracket configured to bridge said sidewalls and bring together the form panels of said first and second wall sections.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, including a spacer telescoped over said connector and engaging the inner surfaces of said form panels making up said first and second wall sections.
 9. A connection clip bracket operable to interconnect a pair of juxtaposed, abutting concrete form panels, each of said form panels having outwardly projecting, apertured wall structure, with the wall structure apertures being aligned, said connection clip comprising: a generally U-shaped bracket body presenting an outer wall and a pair of spaced, opposed sidewalls; and an elongated pin secured to one of said sidewalls and extending toward the other of the sidewalls, said pin oriented to extend through said aligned apertures, said bracket body sidewalls configured to bridge said wall structure of said form panels and to draw the form panels together.
 10. The connection bracket of claim 9, said outer wall having a slot formed therein.
 11. A connection assembly operable to interconnect spaced apart, opposed, first and second wall sections of a concrete form, said first wall section including a pair of juxtaposed first form panels each having an inner surface and an outer surface and side marginal structure comprising an apertured sidewall extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof, said first panel sidewalls being adjacent each other and the first form panels cooperatively defining a first joint therebetween, and a first through bore, said second wall section including a pair of juxtaposed second form panels each having an inner surface and an outer surface and side marginal structure comprising an apertured sidewall extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof, said second panel sidewalls being adjacent each other and the second form panels cooperatively defining a second joint therebetween, and a second through bore, said connection assembly comprising: an elongated connector configured to extend through said first and second bores and of length to bridge said first and second wall sections, said connector being of length to present opposed, threaded ends respectively extending beyond the outer faces of the proximal panels; a first connector clip assembly having structure for threaded coupling with the threaded end of said connector extending beyond the outer faces of the first panels, and including a bracket configured to engage the adjacent sidewalls of said first form panels; and a second connector clip assembly having structure for threaded coupling with the threaded end of said connector extending beyond the outer faces of the said second panels, and including a bracket configured to engage the adjacent sidewalls of said second form panels.
 12. The connection assembly of claim 11, including a tubular spacer telescoped over said connector and between said first and second wall sections.
 13. The connection assembly of claim 11, said first and second connector clip assemblies comprising: a generally U-shaped bracket body presenting an outer wall and a pair of spaced, opposed sidewalls; and an donated pin secured to one of said sidewalls and extending toward the other of the sidewalls, said pin oriented to extend through said sidewall apertures, said bracket body sidewalls configured to bridge said sidewalls of said form panels and to draw the associated form panels together.
 14. The connection assembly of claim 13, said outer wall having a slot formed therein.
 15. The connection assembly of claim 14, said first connector clip assembly including an internally threaded ferrule secured to said bracket outer wall.
 16. The connection assembly of claim 13, including a lever handle secured to one of said bracket body sidewalls.
 17. The connection assembly of claim 13, said second connector clip assembly comprising a nut threadable onto said threaded connector end.
 18. A concrete form panel comprising: a generally planar panel segment presenting an inner face, an opposed outer face, and a pair of opposed, side marginal butt ends, each of said butt ends presenting a plurality of recesses along the length thereof; and a pair of spaced, opposed, outwardly projecting sidewalls secured to the outer face of said planar segment and inboard and adjacent said recess, said sidewalls having a series of aligned apertures therethrough, said recesses configured such that, when a pair of said form panels are placed in side-by-side adjacency to present an elongated joint, the respective recesses cooperatively define a series of openings along the length of the joint.
 19. The form panel of claim 18, said sidewall apertures being arranged in spaced apart, mated pairs, with one of said recesses located between the apertures of each mated pair thereof.
 20. The form panel of claim 18, each of said sidewalls presenting an outboard face adjacent the proximal butt end of said panel segment, there being tubular abutments secured to said outboard faces and disposed about corresponding sidewall openings. 